Automobile.



No 849,145. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

J. LEDWINKA.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYlO. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR:

No. 849,145. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. J LEDWINKA AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIO. 1906 6 SHEETS-SHBET 2,

Flai- WITNESZZI @z/ 6@% No. 849,145. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907. J. LEDWINKA.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIO. 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

Waging! INVENTOR: dosz /umzr/rr/m;

No. 849,145. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

- J. LBDWINKA.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Fi ZZZ WITNESSES: INVENTORI N0. 849,145. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

- I J. LEDWINKA.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIGATION FILED .TULYlO, 1906'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WflTNESSESI LIVENTQRZ uasf /i zfaw/w/m;

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIAL ELECTRIC MOTOR COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN-.

SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of, Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed July 10, 1906. Serial N- 325,457.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEDWINKA, of Philadelphia, in. the -county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automobiles, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement relates to electricallypropelled automobiles-of the type wherein the motors are respectively local to the vehicle-supporting wheels and arranged to turn with the latter on vertical axes in the vehicle-frame, and particularly to the construction and arrangement of the driving mechanism connecting 'such. motors and Wheels.

As hereinafter described, the improved driving mechanism includes a counter-shaft carried by the motor-casing independently of the vehicle-supporting wheel, but provided withv a pinion engaging an internal gearwheel carried by said vehicle-wheel.

My invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified, including brake mechanism carried bysaid inotor casing and adapted to check the. rotation of the vehicle-supporting wheel. In said drawings, Figure I iently embodying my im rovements. Fig. II is a side elevationof t e right-hand rear 'Wheel and motor shown in Fig. I, Fig. III, lan sectional view taken on the line? III I I in the direction of'the arrows shown .in Fig. II. Fig. IV isa vertical sectional view taken on the line IV IV in the direction isa of the arrows shown in Fig. III Fig. V is a vertical sectional view taken on the line V V in spring buffer-rods 1O andll, said rods being arranged in pairs respectively local to the front wheels 13 and rear wheels 14. Said is a plan view of the runmng-gear of a vehicle convenwith said front and rear axle-frames 5 and 6 by vertical trunnions 16 and 17, which are in rigid relation with the respective motorcasings 18 and 19, supported in bearings 20 and 21 in their respective axle-frames. The rear wheels 14 are prevented from turning on their trunnions 17 and are maintained in parallel relation by the lugs 24 on the casings 19, which are rigidly secured to the axleframe '6 by bolts. However, the front wheels 13 are free to turn upon their trunnions 16, such turning movement being effected by the links 25, which are ivoted to the brackets 26 on the motor-casings 18. Said links are each connected with the arm 27 of the bell-crank lever, comprising the vertical shaft 28 and the arm 29,'said' shaft being mounted in the--bearing'30 in said'aXle-frame 5. As indicated in Fig. I, said lever-arm 29' is provided with the ball end 32 engaging a socket inthe link 34, and said link is o eratively connectedwith the steering-wheel 47, so that said wheels 13 may .be turned upon their vertical trunnions 16 i i-either direction, in accordance with the direction of rotation of said wheel 47. Each of said wheels 14 is provided with a bandbrake comprising two semi-annular members 50, which, as shown in Figs. II and III, are pivoted- "at 51 upon the motor-casings 19' and pivoted at their opposite ends upon the eccentric-pins 52 in the drum 53, carried by the shaft 54, which isprovided with the operating-lever 56 and mounted to turn in bearings 57 in. said casing 19. I

As shown in Fig. I, the two brake-levers 56, respectively, local to the wheels 14, are transversely.- connected by the oke 58, and the latter is connected by the li 59 with the leverarm 60,' carried by the shaft 61, mount ed in the bearing 62 on the front hangerframe 2. Said shaft 61 is provided at its up perend with the lever-arm 64, which is connected by the link 65 with the bell-crank lever 66. It is to be understood that said bell-crank lever 66 may-be connected with any suitable mechanism Wherebvsaid links 65 and 59 may be longitudinally reciprocated to apply and release the brakes 50.

Each vehicle-supporting wheel 13 and 14 is operativel connected with its motor, like the whee 14, (shown in Figs. II to V, in-

wheels 13 and 14' are respectively connected I clusive,) wherein the axle 68 of said wheel is secured in rigid relation with the motor-casing 19 by the flange 69. Said axle 68 is provided with the conical roller-bearing rings 71 and 72 for the respective rollers 73 and 7 1, which engage corresponding bearing-rings 76 and 77 in the hub 78 of said wheel, said bearings being adjustable by the nut 80, which also re-. tains said wheel on its axle in its normalposition. (ShowninFig.III.) Saidhub 78 carries the brake-drum '82, which cooperates with the brakes 50 above described, and. said drum is provided withthe internal gearwheel 83, which engages the pinion 84, which is rigidly secured to the counter-shaft 85. As shown inFig. III, said counter-shaft is providedwithball-bearing rings 86 and 87, respectively retained. by the nuts 88 and 89 in: screw-threaded engagement with saiding-balls 104 and 105', which are mounted to rotate in corresponding bearing-rings 106 and-.107. inthe respective bearing-plates 108 and 109..: Said bearing-plates 108 and 109 are:rigidly secured in removable relation-in the motor-casing 19 by the-respective. bolts 110 andilll. Said shaft 98 carries the commutator-seotions 113 in rigid relation therewith, between-the-flange 114 in unitary relation with the sleeve 115, and the ring 116 in screw-threaded relation with said sleeve. Said plate 109 is provided with the four bosses 118, which respectively support by the. screws 119,the four brush-holders 120. (Shown in Fig, 1V.) Said brush-holders compriserectangular: tubes 121, through which carbonblock brushes 122 are presented in contact with the armature-segments 1 13, under 'pressureof the rocker-arms 123, which are pivoted at 12 1' in said brush-holders 120. Said arms 123 are pressed upon said blocks 122 by the springs 126, the outer ends of which may be selectively engaged with either one ofthe notches 127 to adjustably vary the pressure of contact of the brushes 122 on the commutator.

As shown in Fig. IV, the casing 19 is p 131 of the motor-field extend radially in rigid relation with said casing 19 and are provided within the latter with respective field-coils 132, which are electrically connected with the exterior circuit of the vehicle by leads which ex'tend'through the elbow 134, (shown in Figs. III and IV,)\but which are omitted from the drawings.

it may be observed with reference to Fig. HI that all of the members of the motor and the gearing connecting the same with the vehicle-wheel are inclosed and that the joint between the casing 19 and the drum 82, which turns therein, is sealed by the dustguard ring 136.

I do not desire tolimit myself to the procise details ofconstruction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

I claim-- 1. The combination with a vehicle-wheel; of a stationary axle for said wheel; a motorcasing supporting said axlein rigid relation therewith; a motor carried by said casing comprising an armature-shaft in. alinement with said axle; means supporting said armature-shaft independently of said axle; a pin ion on said armature-shaft; a counter-shaftprovided with a bearing on said motor-casing exterior thereto; a gear-wheel carried by said counter-shaft in engagementwith said armature-shaft pinion; a pinion on the end of said counter-shaft adjoimng said gear-wheel and, a gearwheel carried by said vehicle-w heel in engagement with said countereshaft pinion,

substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with-a vehicle-wheel; ofa motor-casing carryinga-stationary axle for said wheel; a motorcarriedby said casing, comprising an armature-shaft means so porting said armature-shaft in said casing in ependently of said axle; a bearing on said motor-casing exterior thereto; a countershaft mounted in saidexterior bearing; a

pinion on said armature-shaft a-gear-wheel on saidcountenshaft engaging said armature-shaft pinion; a pinion on said countershaft; and, a gear-wheel on said vehiclewheel, engaging said countenshaft pinion, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a vehicle-Wheel provided with a brakerdrum; of a motor-casmg carrying a stationary axle for said wheel; a band-brake encirclingsaid drum; a brake shaft mounted to oscillate on said motor-casing; a head at one end anda lever at the other end of said brake-shaft; eccentric-pins in said head respectively connected with the opposite ends of said brake-band; and, power-transmitting connection between said motor and said vehicle-wheel, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a vehicle-wheel IOf IIC

provided with a brake-drum of a motor-casmg carrying a stationary axle for said'wheel; a band-brake encircling said drum; a brakeshaft mounted to oscillate on said motor-casing a head at one end and a lever at the other end 05 said brake-shaft; eccentric-pins in said hea respectively connected with the opposite ends of said brake -band; and,'

power-transmitting connection between said motor and said vehicle-wheel, comprising an internaI'gear-wheel in rigid relation withsaid brake-drum, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination I with ,a vehicle-wheel provided with a brake-drum of a motor-cas-.

ing carrying a stationary axle for said wheel; a band-brake encircling said drum a brakeshaft mounted to oscillate on said motor-casing; a head at one end vand a lever at the other end of said brake-shaft; eccentric-pins in said head respectively connected withthe opposite ends of said brake-band; a powertransmitting connection between said motor.

and-said vehicle-wheel, comprising an internal gear-wheel in rigid relation with said brake-drum; a' counter-shaft provided with a pinion engaging said internal gear-wheel; a gear-wheel in rigid relation with said coun ter-shaft pinion; and, a pinion on the armature-shaft of said motor, engaging said counter-shaft gear-wheel, substantially as set forth. .1

6. The combination with a vehicle-wheel; of a motor-casing carrying a stationary axle for. said wheel;a' motor-armature provided with a commutator mounted to rotate within said casing openings in opposite sides of said casing local to said commutator; doors for said openings pivoted on said casing, and, a swing-bolt arranged to connect said doors in closed position, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with a vehicle-wheel;

of a motor-casing carrying a stationary axle for said wheel; a motor carried by said casture-shaft independently of said axle, comprising bearingi plates respectively at olpposite ends; thereo means securing said p ates in removable relation with said motor-casing brush-holder bosses carried by the outer one ofsaid beaiiing-plates brush-holders secured to, said :bosse,so; ""and, a power-transmitting connecti'o between said armature-shaft. and vehicle' -fwheei,substantially as set forth, I

j9;.; Thej combination with a vehicle-wheel of. a motor-casing carrying a stationary axle for said wheel a motor carried by said casing,

comprising abea'ring-plate at the end of said casing; means securing said plate inremovablefrelation with said casing; brush-holder bosses carried by said bearing-plate; brushholders secured to'said bosses; and, a power transmitting connection between said armature-shaft and vehicle-wheel substantially as .set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed myname, at'Philadelphia, Pennsyl- V .vania, this 5th dayof July, 1906.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

Witnesses:

D. BRrr'roN CHAMBERS, CHARLES BERG. 

